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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. key — for a lock
  6. perch — the fish
  7. current — of water
  8. branch — a division
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. current — electric
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mate — to breed
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. mate — a friend
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. current — happening now
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. mate — a partner
  22. key — the most important part
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. hide — animal skin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com